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Top 5 Overall Best Accounting Software

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Top 5 Best Accounting Software

There are a plethora of accounting programs out there – some great, some so-so. While you could take the time to explore all of the free trials and features out there, you want to skip the excess research and just find one now. At Revuezzle, we understand your rush to use the best software out there. That is why we have complied a list of the Top 5 Accounting Software Programs just for you. These are the best of the best and hand-tested by our in-house editorial staff. We can attest to their efficiency, ease of use, convenience and whether or not they’re even worth the price tag.

Quickbooks Plus

QuickBooks Plus comes from the family of QuickBooks Online products. It is their highest offering that comes with plenty of features – including management options – so that you are in complete control of your business.

With Plus, you get all of the accounting features you would need – income and expenses, reporting, profit and loss statements, synchronizing bank transactions, creating purchase orders, etc. You can also create and customize invoices, make estimates, bill on a recurring basis, etc. You can collect payments in QuickBooks Plus if you sign up for a QuickBooks merchant account (separate fees will apply on a per transaction basis).

There is also inventory tracking with QuickBooks Plus and you can setup convenient reordering points so that you never run out of stock on items you need to operate efficiently. The system also comes with 65 built-in reports.

You can manage as many employees as you need with QuickBooks Plus too – but you will have to pay extra to add on payroll.

A Few Details about this Software:

QuickBooks Plus offers a free 30-day trial, but if you choose to do the trial you cannot take advantage of the introductory rate.

If you opt for the introductory rate first, you will pay $23.97 per month for six months and then the regular rate of $39.95 per month thereafter.

You can add-on payroll, which ranges from $32.97 per month plus $1.50 per employee to as much as $138.95 per month plus $2.00 per employee – depending on if you want a DIY or full-service payroll options.

Customized Invoices:

Credit Card/Paypal Processing: Added Fee

Expense Tracking:

Import Bank Transactions:

Estimates or Quotes:

Employee Time Sheets

Converts Estimates/Quotes to Invoices:

1099's:

Managing and Paying Bills:

W2's:

Inventory Tracking:

Prints or Electronically Processes Payroll Checks:

Worried about using QuickBooks?In the past, QuickBooks got a bad rap for being difficult. While it is true their desktop versions are a little more complex, the online versions are extremely user friendly and even offer step-by-step setup tutorials so that you can get your account setup and then keep track of finances with ease.

Quickbooks Pro

QuickBooks Pro is one of the classic desktop accounting versions of QuickBooks – and still one of the more popular. It offers the convenience of a one-time download and fee – so you aren’t paying monthly. You also get access to features that the QuickBooks Online family doesn’t have and industry-specific accounting options.

With Pro, you get the basic accounting as well as reports. You can also use industry-specific templates when setting up your reports, invoices, estimates, purchase orders and even your inventory. These premade templates make setup easier – because they are specifically designed for your company.

Also, QuickBooks Pro is one of the few programs to automatically include shipping. You can ship packages from your business using USPS, FedEx and UPS and then track the cost all from a single program. This program too has inventory tracking and you can also monitor 1099s for contractors.

A Few Details about this Software:

With QuickBooks Pro, you have the option of the one-time download fee or paying annually. If you opt for annual, you get automatic online backups and you can upgrade to the latest version of QuickBooks each year. For the annual plan, you will pay $199.95 per year. For the one-time download you will pay $219.95.

Customized Invoices:

Credit Card/Paypal Processing: Added Fee

Expense Tracking:

Import Bank Transactions:

Estimates or Quotes:

Employee Time Sheets

Converts Estimates/Quotes to Invoices:

1099's:

Managing and Paying Bills:

W2's:

Inventory Tracking:

Prints or Electronically Processes Payroll Checks:

Need to send more than 10 invoices? If 10 invoices are too restrictive, WorkingPoint has their Thunderstorm plan which is $19 per month or $190 per year. This provides you with unlimited invoicing and all of the great features of WorkingPoint – and for just $19!

Quickbooks Essentials

QuickBooks Essentials is another member of the QuickBooks Online family. While not as robust as QuickBooks Plus, Essentials offers the features that most small business owners would need to efficiently run their business.

With Essentials, you get all of the accounting features including the ability to track income and expenses, create estimates and invoices, synchronize with your bank account for faster transaction importing, manage and pay bills, etc. There is no inventory tracking with Essentials, but for businesses that don’t have inventory this isn’t an issue.

Essentials is cloud-based so you can access everything via your mobile phone. Also, you will enjoy mobile invoicing and receipt capture.

A Few Details about this Software:

QuickBooks Essentials has an introductory rate of $18.86 per month for six months and then $26.95 per month after that.

Customized Invoices:

Credit Card/Paypal Processing: Added Fee

Expense Tracking:

Import Bank Transactions:

Estimates or Quotes:

Employee Time Sheets

Converts Estimates/Quotes to Invoices:

1099's:

Managing and Paying Bills:

W2's:

Inventory Tracking:

Prints or Electronically Processes Payroll Checks:

Want to try it for free? If you would rather try Essentials for free, there is a free 30-day trial. But, if you do the free trial you will not be able to enjoy the introductory rate.

WorkingPoint

WorkingPoint isn’t as pretty to look at, but once you get past the looks and see all of the features – and the super affordable price – you can’t help but love it.

WorkingPoint is a small business online management solution. It is freelancer-friendly, small business-friendly and more. With WorkingPoint, you can track inventory and create purchase orders, track income and expenses, sync with bank accounts, track time and generate timesheets for employees, manage and pay your vendors through WorkingPoint and even accept Stripe and PayPal payments (their fees will apply).

WorkingPoint has a lot of the features other companies charge $30 per month for – and they aren’t even $20.

A Few Details about this Software:

You have two plans to choose from with WorkingPoint after the 30-day free trial:

Lightning: You are limited to one user and 10 invoices per month and there are no PayPal payments with this option or estimated quarterly tax payment calculations. But, you only pay $9 per month.

Thunderstorm: No limitations and you can enjoy unlimited invoices and more advanced features. This is only $19 per month!

Customized Invoices:

Credit Card/Paypal Processing: Added Fee

Expense Tracking:

Import Bank Transactions:

Estimates or Quotes:

Employee Time Sheets

Converts Estimates/Quotes to Invoices:

1099's:

Managing and Paying Bills:

W2's:

Inventory Tracking:

Prints or Electronically Processes Payroll Checks:

Want to save even more?You can save if you opt for an annual plan with WorkingPoint. Lightening comes out to $99 per year or Thunderstorm at $190 per year.

Quickbooks Premier

QuickBooks Premier is another desktop version of QuickBooks products – and highly popular. It offers everything from integrated shipping to basic accounting and even inventory. It’s a highly intuitive program and while it may seem archaic to use it on the desktop, you would be surprised at just how feature-rich this program can be.

With Premier, you get the accounting features you need, a customizable dashboard, progressive and recurring billing options and you can manage vendors. You can also create inventory reorder points and enjoy integrated shipping – so you can ship with your favorite vendors right from Premier and automatically download the cost into your program.

Overall, QuickBooks desktop products have come a long way and they are much easier to use today than they were five years ago. They are still more complex than online versions, but that is only because they are more robust with their feature offerings.

A Few Details about this Software:

QuickBooks Premier comes with an annual plan or a desktop plan. With the desktop plan, you pay once for a single download. This costs $379.95 for the download. If you choose the annual plan, you can enjoy data backups and upgrades each year – so you get the latest features. This costs $299.95 per year.

Customized Invoices:

Credit Card/Paypal Processing: Added Fee

Expense Tracking:

Import Bank Transactions:

Estimates or Quotes:

Employee Time Sheets

Converts Estimates/Quotes to Invoices:

1099's:

Managing and Paying Bills:

W2's:

Inventory Tracking:

Prints or Electronically Processes Payroll Checks:

What if you need payroll? Just like other QuickBooks products, you can still add on payroll to your QuickBooks Premier software, but this is done online and will have its own added monthly service fee.